Don't let your pumpkins drink and drive

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween.

Just don't let your pumpkins enjoy too many adult beverages. Or it could get a little messy.

Sorry, this mailbox doesn't accept junk mail

Six pieces of mail were waiting for me when I went to the mailbox today.

• A package containing I bra I had ordered from Victoria's Secret last week.
• A random piece of junk mail.
• An extra large postcard supporting a candidate for State Senate.
• And four, count 'em, four of those extra large postcards sent to me from the folks at the Republican National Committee telling me how evil the Democratic presidential candidate is.

Yup. That's pretty much been what's been in my mailbox every day for the last two weeks or so. Minus the bra of course.

I'm ready for the election to be over.

First day completed

Day 1 of the challenge was successfully completed.

I headed over to the YMCA after work and spent some time on the treadmill to nowhere. I logged 2.8 miles in 30 minutes. I'm slowly getting back into the running. It's actually gotten easier in just the last week. I still run at a slower pace than I used to, but I last longer without having to take a break. I think at this point I may have to aim for that 5K I've been toying with the week after the 2-mile Turkey Trot. After the run I headed over to the bike and spent 20 minutes pedaling before I had to head home for the night.

Now, tomorrow might be a stretching it a bit. See, I'm bowling with some girls from work at night. And it's basically right after work. So I might have to count the bowling as my exercise for the day. It's kind of like strength training. Picking up a heavy ball. Throwing the heavy ball. Repeat two times per frame. Ten frames per game. Two games. Yeah. That sounds like a "workout" to me.

A challenge

I'm joining Teacherwoman.

Starting tomorrow, for the next 33 days there will be some kind of workout. Running, biking, walking. Maybe I'll even pull out the Billy Blanks Tae Bo tapes I have. Or, gasp! Maybe I'll even get in the pool, a place I haven't been since July.

And besides, maybe the scale and I will get along a little better after 33 days and it's the end of November.

I can do it.

Anyone care to join me?

I try to avoid the ironing board

One thing I really really dislike about the weather getting colder?

Switching over to winter clothes.

Let's not even talk about the fact that three-quarters of my winter wardrobe doesn't fit at the moment due to the nasty meds I had to take to get rid of the monster. I'm confident they'll fit again.

What's worse? Having to iron.

Sounds silly. But my shirts never end up wrinkle free. I swear I put more wrinkles in than I take out. Ugh.

Which is why I try my hardest to buy clothes that don't require ironing.

The Badgers were a good excuse to watch some TV

It was very fall-like today. Temperatures in the mid-50s, sunny and just a slight breeze. And since I was working a funky split shift today, with a large chunk of time off in the afternoon, I was toying with taking my bike out and sneaking in what could very well be my last ride of the year.

You know, because we have a forecast that features the mercury barely hitting 40, winds around 30 miles an hour and a chance of snow for the next few days. Not really ideal biking conditions.

So I went to work this morning and did what I had to do. I was sitting at my desk, writing my story and keeping my eye on Wisconsin's homecoming game against Illinois.

Then I was done. Ready to leave for the afternoon and I glanced at the football score.

Wisconsin 10, Illinois 10 at halftime.

Hmm. Not the blowouts that Wisconsin has been suffering the last two games. And from the glimpses I had seen, it was actually a pretty good game. And of course, since I'm cheap, I don't get ESPN2 at home. And I really didn't want to listen to it on the radio. Just wasn't in the radio mood today.

So I stopped and thought for a moment and it dawned on me.

The YMCA.

Remember? With its swanky new treadmills with TVs right in your face? It was a Saturday afternoon, there was bound to be a treadmill or two available for me to hop on and sneak in a run while watching the Badgers.

So I headed over and hopped on the treadmill to nowhere. Almost three miles and 30 minutes later, the game was heading into the fourth quarter (ironically, just as House of Pain's "Jump Around" came up on my iPod's play list) and the game was tied at 17.

It was time to bike then. Over the next half hour I logged 7 miles and watched the Badgers take a 27-17 lead with just under 3 minutes remaining. I could have walked away, satisfied that the Badgers would come away with their first Big Ten win of the season.

But 3 minutes is a lot of time. And Illinois had the ball. And I didn't want to take any chances of missing some big comeback by the Illini while I was downstairs in the locker room changing.

So I hopped back on the treadmill and walked while the game finished.

The Badgers won. And I got in a good workout. And that makes a happy Badgergirl.

Then it was back to work for me. But at least I could pass my time by keeping my eyes on the Badger hockey game against Minnesota tonight. Unfortunately, it's not going as well as this afternoon's football game.

Mark it on your calendars

Mark it on your calendars.

Two days. In a row. As in, Tuesday then Wednesday.

I haven't done that since May. That's a long time. And that's why I'm marking it on the calendar. It's a momentous day. Why?

I ran. Two days in a row. Granted it was just a two-mile run yesterday and today. But still, this is the girl who has run maybe three times in the past two months. It's a big day for me people.

So I did it. And I'm hoping to add day number three tomorrow. Because not only have I found some motivation, I also have something to run towards.

I've decided to run in a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I have my choice between a 5-mile run/walk and a 2-mile walk. And since I've just recently discovered this will to run again, I'm going to opt for the 2-mile walk. But I'm going to run. And if they race people get mad at me, oh well. An added bonus? Besides getting up early on Thanksgiving morning and running before sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal? Participants apparently get a free pie along with the shirt. Sign me up.

Once I get done Turkey Trotting, there just might be a 5K on the horizon. But I haven't decided yet.

For now though, it's a Turkey Trot and I'm aiming for day number three.

Five days of nothing

Take a couple of days of vacation, add in a weekend and toss in an extra day off to account for an upcoming Saturday shift this weekend and what did I have? Five days to do whatever I wanted. And what did I do?

Well, nothing too, too exciting. But it was an enjoyable five days to myself.

Thursday there was sleeping late, lounging around my apartment and then dinner with a friend at O'Charley's. I thought about hitting the YMCA, but decided against it.

Friday I did some errands during the day and then hung out with a bunch of 6- and 7-year-olds at a Halloween party at The Rugrats' house. All of the kids had a good time, even The Hellion (my youngest nephew), who demanded that all the "scary men" be taken down. He's only 2, I guess he doesn't quite get the whole scary Halloween concept yet.

I listened to the Badgers suck it up on Saturday. Seriously. What happened to this team? I can't remember the last time they started 0-4 in the Big Ten. At this point, even that "gimmie" game against Cal Poly on Nov. 22 doesn't look like so much of a "gimmie." More like a "must win" in order to get to a bowl game. Maybe things will turn around this weekend when Illinois comes to Camp Randall. A Badger can hope, can't she?

After the Badgers disappointed me, Mom and I went to the apple orchard, had a delicious caramel apple, looked at the crafts and then got some yummy treats. The two chocolate muffins? They're mine. Mom opted for the pumpkin and blueberry variety. And the mini-apple pie? We shared it.

Sunday was spent with the family, celebrating my youngest cousin's first birthday and then watching the Packers beat up on the Colts. Again, Aaron Rodgers looked good, bum shoulder and all. And Brett Favre? You're not doing yourself any favors pulling this kind of stuff.

And today? My final day of a super-extended vacation? I didn't do much. Did some errands. Paid some bills and putzed around. I thought about heading over to the YMCA, but decided not to. After all, it's vacation. The YMCA will be there when I head back to work.

Tomorrow. Ugh.